Chocolate stains

- I'm so going to kill you! Aaaaaargh! Oooooow!!! Oh God I swear I'll never let you… do /this/ to me again! And… and stop smiling!

Cloud was looking like he was really going to kill Sephiroth, but the silver haired man just stayed there, holding faithfully his lover's hand. Zack was on the verge of bursting out laughing at his father's behaviour, making him wonder how it must have been when he had he and his brother in there. Sky, Angel, Cid and Vincent had already settled into the waiting room. Laguna and Aerith were to arrive in a few days, well Laguna was still a little sick and Aerith had a long way to go. Zack urged the team to take him into the surgery room, handing Sephiroth a proper outfit so he could follow him into the block D-2. And about one hour later, their smaller brother was born.

A gentle ray of light touched Cloud as he was taken into a private room. He felt a soft caress on the side of his face, and he knew Sephiroth was there. Reassured, he allowed himself to return sleep, tired of fighting against the medicine. When finally the drug's grip on him loosened, he was glad to see that all of his friends and relatives had finally arrived. Vincent had a little bundle in his arms, and when he noticed Cloud awake, he immediately came over to place him in his lap. Silver hair framed his delicate features, and his half closed lids showed a glimpse of Mako green coloured eyes. The small child was drowsy, but found enough strength to look at his father before drifting off into sleep. Cloud smiled, muffling back his son into the blankets, rocking him gently.

- Say hello to Riku, Cloud, Sephiroth said softly

- Riku, the blond whispered back, Yes, that's him. Welcome in the family, Riku.

*******

A few weeks later

In the middle of the night, a certain blond, spiky haired man was tending to a small baby. Sky was just tying him his diaper when he heard his older brothers get up too. Both were feeling like hell, they were green and feverish since a few days, as well as Cloud and Sephiroth. The week before, a spilling of toxic waste had poisoned the water supply of the city. Nothing deadly, but it has been enough to make more than half of the citizen ill. Another treat from the Sorceress's Revival faction. Sky wasn't drinking tap water, so he had been the only one in the house to be spared from the sickness. He wasn't complaining, he had to take few days off to take care of his smaller brother.

- Are you alright, Riku? I'll have to go check on your brothers…

He gave him a peck on the cheek and covered him, then with a yawn, made his way to Angel and Zack's bedroom. Zack was spread on the floor on his back; apparently he had fallen off his bed. The doctor and Sephiroth were yet too weak to get up, but Angel and Cloud had started to show signs that they were really recovering. After having hauled him back into his bed, Sky went back to his own to catch up some hours of most needed sleep.

In the morning, though, he was surprised to find Cloud already up and taking care of Riku in the living room. It was feeding time. He also noticed that the shower in their bedroom was on, and he asked if Sephiroth was up.

- Yes, yes he is. Your father is far much better than yesterday. In fact he's better than me, I think. I still feel like a truck passed over me…

- I'll never get myself used to his metabolism… Like the time he lost his voice. It took him what, two days to recover?

- Yes, but when Angel passed him the chickenpox, it took him two weeks to get better. Poison had never been a problem for him, but viruses and Miniki pollen… that's another story.

The now empty milk bottle suddenly flew off as Riku began to giggle and to wriggle his arms, asking for some attention.

- Gyaa!!! Hihihi!!!!!

- He's adorable!, cooed Cloud, Sky, can you make him burp? I have to go check on Zack. He's beginning to worry me.

Sky nodded, picking up his smaller brother and a towel and proceeded to lightly tap his back to make him burp. Cloud, on the other hand, made a slight detour for the fridge, taking a bottle of electrolyte before climbing the stairs. Angel was there, kneeled before his twin's bed with a dampened cloth in hand. Zack was sleeping, but his pyjama was sticking to him, as well as his sheets. Cloud woke him up.

- You should drink a little more. You're dehydrated.

Zack nodded and shakily drank the bluish liquid. After what the blond asked his other son to take him into the bathroom for a shower while he would change the bedding. He had just thrown away the dirty set when Sephiroth came to help him. The silver haired man was dressed in a thick blue robe and his hair was still wet from his shower. Ten minutes later their sons came in supporting Zack by each side; the doctor had fallen asleep again. After tucking him in his bed, Cloud was relieved to notice his fever was finally down.

- Is he any better?

- Yes, I think. Sleep is the only thing that can make him better. Come, I'll make breakfast.

- No need to, chirped Sky, because Kyros is already on the case! Laguna, Squall, Seifer and Quistis came in to see the baby.

As on cue, there was a rumble downstairs, followed by a distress call and baby cries. Cloud's heart skipped a beat and he raced downstairs… to find Riku crying in Seifer's arms and Laguna spread on the floor in a milk mess. Squall was helping him to get on his feet, supporting him, while Quistis was searching for something on the floor. Cloud immediately reached for the spare pacifier he kept in his kimono and put him in his son's mouth. That solved one problem. He picked up a cane on the floor, giving it to Laguna. Since the first shooting attempt, the President of Esthar could not walk without it, and he would probably need it for the rest of his life.

- Angel! Oh Angel…

Quistis had quickly stopped her search when she saw Angel and Sephiroth climb down the stairs. The professor's traits were tired, but he was truly happy to see her.

- You look awful!, she said in a awe, You should be in bed right now, you're in no shape to be up!

- I'm alright, Quis, he assured her, Do you want to talk around some coffee?

So while the two lovers were going into the kitchen to join Kyros, Sephiroth and Seifer went up to put Riku to sleep. Seifer was overjoyed to take care of the baby, and upon laying him in the cradle, Sephiroth was wondering which one was the cutest… Seifer babbling or Riku half asleep in his arms.

*********

Esthar hospital

Adrian fell into his chair, totally exhausted. Since a week now, the hospital was crowded, thanks to that revolutionary faction. He groaned at that thought; it could have been a lot worse, so he shouldn't complain. The fact that Zack and some of the other doctors were still sick was worrying him, also. But not as much as Ansem's condition. The trainee's mysterious coma was doing some strange change to him. Now half of his hair, that was a rich burgundy shade, had turned silver. His brain scan showed some atypical waves and activity. All his vital functions were slowed down, but were overworking, as if he was constantly running while he was asleep.

- I really don't know what to do with him… he whispered tiredly

Just as he was closing his eyes to get a little rest, the intercom called him into the emergency room. Hours passed by, and when he finished his shift, another surprise was waiting for him into the intensive care unit; Ansem had woken up. He was still unaware of his surroundings, though. That was at least, good news. Or so he thought. The second he touched him to take his pulse, his whole body jerked and Ansem howled in pain; his skin was extremely sensitive, as if he had been burned. Another abnormality to note down… But what was going on with him?

*********

Cloud closed the door and managed to take all of his grocery bags inside. It was a beautiful day, wonderful for the Spring Festival of Esthar. Sephiroth and Cloud had planned to go in the streets to attend the fireworks with Riku that night. The silver haired man was carrying their son along some of the packages they had taken for him. Mostly clothes, because the small thing was growing up very quickly. While Cloud started to unpack and place everything, he took care to put him in his park, so he wouldn't run free in the house. He wanted to help Cloud with his task, but the blond brought him a bowl of chocolate ice cream instead, telling him to lay back for a while.

- You stayed up all night. Rest a little… I'll be okay by myself.

Sephiroth nodded, taking the offered treat. But, shortly after having turned on the TV, he began to slip away, and eventually fell asleep on the couch, the melting ice cream totally forgotten. What he did not know, though, is that he was so tired, that he had not closed Riku's park completely. The toddler took his chance and crawled to his daddy, taking support on the coffee table… but his small hands caught instead a spoon, and…

*klink*

The small noise did not alerted Cloud for a second, and the blond continued his task. He was even cooking dinner. What brought him back into the living was a joyous exclamation from Riku... His eyes widened when he saw the /mess/! There was chocolate everywhere!

- Riku! Sephiroth! Why did you let him do that!

But neither if the two answered him, because Riku was fast asleep on the turned over bowl and Sephiroth was snoring on the couch, feet first in the melted ice cream. Cloud did the only thing he could do in such circumstances; he rummaged around to get his camera and took a picture.

End

Author's notes

Sorry for the short chapter, and the late update. I had to take some time for me. But I do hope you like Riku! He's too cuuuuuuuuuuute! I'll try to make the next chapter sooner. Thank you all for your patience. I love you all! See ya in: Unveiled shadows